The TV series Xena: Warrior Princess," with its brazen beauties, captured the attention of viewers in the late 1990s and has maintained a cult following since its final broadcast in 2001.
At the forefront were Xena, portrayed by Lucy Lawless, and her blond-haired, blue-eyed, faithful sidekick Gabrielle, played by Manhattan Beach resident Renee O'Connor.
Born in the small town of Katy, Texas, O'Connor moved to Los Angeles after high school like so many other Hollywood hopefuls. She booked a multitude of projects, but it was landing the role of Gabrielle in 1995 that gave her the chance to expand her career.
"My most beloved character that I have played is Gabrielle," O'Connor said.
"I worked in New Zealand for six years on the show and it stills holds a great place in my heart," she said. "What was important about working (on `Xena') is that it offered me the opportunity to grow as a person and actress. ... (It helped me to understand) my place in the world and also allowed me to observe all of the directors that came in over the years and learn their skills and tools. That's part of the reason that I wanted to write and direct in my own project."
O'Connor, a wife and mother of two, has kept true to her ambitions, and will showcase her second directorial project at the Method Fest film festival. The festival opens Thursday and continues through March 31, with screenings and events in Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Woodland Hills.
"I think everyone's got [a merkin] just for fun," she told Uinterview.com. "Mine, I haven't had to break it out yet. Though [laughs] next season, maybe! Yeah, wait for it!"
(A merkin is a pubic wig, FYI.)
SLIDESHOW: Lawless Lovelies. ('Lawless' - get it?)
And for the guys? Prosthetic privates!
"A couple are stapled to the wall," Lawless said. "I'm not sure if they've used them yet. Nobody's telling!"
While reknowned for her buff bod on , Lawless said she's been able to be more natural on "Spartacus."
"My character is not supposed to be ripped. She's a woman. It's Ancient Rome. It's not like they were popping off to the gym every two seconds, but they were very image conscious, that's for sure."
NBC unveiled today a strong lineup of broad and diverse quality programming for the 2009-2010 television season announcing the pickups of six new series featuring four new dramas including "Trauma," "Parenthood," "Mercy" and the event series "Day One," as well as two new comedies including "Community" and "100 Questions." Four returning series pickups were also announced today including "Heroes," "Southland," "Parks and Recreation" and the addition of six new episodes of "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" skewering today's top stories in live half-hour primetime shows.
The new and returning series will launch next season and the epic event series "Day One" is slated to premiere out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. "The Jay Leno Show" will be broadcast Monday-Fridays, 10-11 p.m. ET beginning in the fall. Previously announced series pickups include "The Office," "30 Rock," "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Friday Night Lights," and new alternative series "The Marriage Ref," "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins" and "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Additional series pickups will be announced May 19, when NBC announces its 2009-2010 schedule.
NBC unveiled pickups for the upcoming broadcast season in the first of a series of presentations today and tomorrow to key advertisers from Studio 8H-the home of NBC's "Saturday Night Live"-at 30 Rock efeller Plaza in New York City. Presentations will continue in Chicago on May 7 and Los Angeles on May 12.
"We are thrilled to be announcing such an awesome slate of new series that build on our existing quality brand and deliver emotional, human stories," said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "NBC will strive to make viewers feel and our shows represent the full range of human emotion from laughter to tears. We can't wait to share these concepts with our audience and our advertising partners."
"These new series will showcase fresh talent and bold, original concepts that are extremely well executed," said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "We are grateful to the producers, casts and crews -- and our team -- who have delivered incredibly compelling and entertaining new series." In response to an evolving media marketplace and the changing needs of advertisers, NBC has created a more innovative, client-centric approach to its traditional Upfront with a series of one-on-one client presentations, which began today in New York City. These presentations are interactive and, unlike other networks' Upfront presentations, will include a Q & A with advertisers and NBC sales and entertainment executives.
NBC will also host advertisers and affiliates at a "Night of Comedy" featuring appearances by some of its biggest comedy stars including Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Rainn Wilson and Tracy Morgan on Tuesday, May 19 inNew York City.
Detailed new series descriptions are listed below. For photography, log on to www.nbcumv.com. For additional press materials including EPK and new series promotional trailers, please see companion media advisory.
2009-2010 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
New Dramas
PARENTHOOD
From the executive producers of the box-office hit "Parenthood" -- Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (Oscar winners for "A Beautiful Mind"), and writer/executive producer Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights") -- this contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film depicts the colorful and imperfect Braverman family -- four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and joy of being parents. The star-studded cast includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos. When Sarah Braverman (Tierney, "ER seasons dvd"), a financially strapped single mother, returns home to her parents and siblings in Berkeley, Calif. after packing up her Fresno apartment and uprooting her two inconvenienced kids, Amber (Mae Whitman, "In Treatment") and Drew (Miles Heizer, "ER dvd"), she is greeted by her opinionated father, Zeek (Nelson, "Family Stone," "Coach"), and strong mother, Camille (Bedelia, "Heart Like a Wheel"), who are privately dealing with their own marital issues. As Sarah is reunited with her siblings -- sister, Julia (Christensen, "Traffic"), and brothers Crosby (Shepard, "Baby Mama") and Adam (Krause, "Six Feet Under") -- all struggling with issues of their own, it's clear that the Braverman reunion is just what they need to face the everyday challenges of modern family life. "Parenthood" is a production from Imagine Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing") directs the pilot.
TRAUMA
Executive producer Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") delivers "Trauma," the first high-octane medical drama series to live exclusively in the field where the real action is. Like an adrenaline shot to the heart, "Trauma" is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco General is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the city's Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the San FranciscoBay, these heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives -- and give meaning to their own existence in the process. Starring in "Trauma" are Derek Luke ("Notorious"), Cliff Curtis ("10,000 B.C"), Anastasia Griffith ("Damages"), Aimee Garcia ("George Lopez"), Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights") and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"). "Trauma" is a production of Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Berg, Sarah Aubrey ("Bad Santa," "Friday Night Lights"), Dario Scardapane and Jeffrey Reiner ("Friday Night Lights") serve as executive producers. The pilot was written by Scardapane and directed by Reiner.
MERCY
"Mercy," a new medical drama with a unique point of view, portrays the lives of the staff at MercyHospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best -- its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling, "Dark Matter") returns to Mercy from a military tour in Iraq -- and she knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jamie Lee Kirchner, "Rescue Me") and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, "Gossip Girl"), Callahan navigates through the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. The cast also includes: James Tupper ("Men in Trees") as Dr. Chris Sands, a new doctor at the hospital who complicates Veronica's life; Diego Klattenhoff ("Supernatural dvd") as Mike Callahan, Veronica's husband; and Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds") as Nurse Angel Lopez. "Mercy" is a production from Universal Media Studios and Berman Braun. Joining writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts ("Pushing Daisies," "Pepper Dennis") are executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (NBC's "30 Rock," "Rescue Me") is the director.
DAY ONE
From executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander ("Heroes," "Lost dvd," "Alias") and director Alex Graves ("Fringe," "Journeyman"), "Day One" tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe that has devastated the world's infrastructures. Beginning with the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic event, an eclectic band of survivors -- played by Adam Campbell ("Date Movie"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield"), Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone"), David Lyons ("ER"), Derek Mio ("Greek"), Carly Pope ("24"), Thekla Reuten ("Sleeper Cell") and Addison Timlin ("Cashmere Mafia") -- strives to rebuild society as they unravel the mysteries of what happened and face their uncertain future. The group, all residents of one apartment building in suburban Van Nuys, Calif., embarks on a quest for survival and discovers that hope is found in small victories -- and heroes are born every day. "Day One" is a Universal Media Studios production.
New Comedies
100 QUESTIONS (fka "100 Questions for Charlotte Payne")
Emmy winner James Burrows ("Will & Grace," "Friends") directs "100 Questions," a new comedy series written and executive-produced by Christopher Moynihan ("For Your Consideration") that provides hilarious answers to 100 questions about love. Charlotte Payne (Sophie Winkleman, "Peep Show") is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor Ravi (Amir Talai, "The Ex List") - who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with Friends Leslie (Elizabeth Ho, "Women's Murder Club"), Jill (Joy Suprano, NBC's "Law & Order"), Mike (Christopher Moynihan "For Your Consideration") and Wayne (David Walton "Quarterlife"). The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship. Ron West ("Psych"), Kelly Kulchak ("Psych") and Michelle Nader ("King of Queens") join Moynihan as executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Tagline.
COMMUNITY
From Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") comes "Community," a smart comedy series about higher education -- and lower expectations. The student body at GreendaleCommunity College is made up of high-school losers, newly divorced housewives, and old people who want to keep their minds active. Within these not-so-hallowed halls, "Community" focuses on a band of misfits, at the center of which is a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), who form a study group and end up learning a lot more about themselves than they do about their course work. In addition to McHale, the series also stars: Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel"); Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement"); Danny Pudi ("Greek"); Alison Brie ("Mad Men"); and comedy legend Chevy Chase ("Saturday Night Live"). "Community" is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap and Russo Brothers production in association with Sony Pictures Television and Universal Media Studios. Russ Krasnoff ("The Soloist"), Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program"), Joe Russo ("Arrested Development"), Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") and Gary Foster ("The Soloist") serve as executive producers. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the pilot that was written by Dan Harmon.
Two men have been charged with murder in the disappearance of five teenage
boys who were last seen together on a busy street more than 30 years ago.
The men, whose names haven't been released, were also charged with arson,
the Essex County prosecutor's office said Monday. The prosecutor's office did
not immediately say how the case was solved.
"It's probably the most sensational case this city had in its past, in its history,"
Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy said.
The boys, Melvin Pittman and Ernest Taylor, who were both 17, and Alvin
Turner, Randy Johnson, and Michael McDowell, who were all 16, were last
seen on a busy street near a park where they had played basketball on Aug.
20, 1978. They were with a carpenter, Lee Evans, who routinely hired teens to
help him with odd jobs, police have said.
Unlocking The Mystery Of The 'Clinton Avenue Five'
Evans told police at the time that he dropped off the boys on a street corner
near an ice cream parlor. Later that night, Michael McDowell returned home
and changed clothes, then returned to a waiting pickup truck with at least one
other boy inside. That was the last confirmed sighting of any of the teens.
Evans was repeatedly interviewed in the months after the disappearances but
passed a polygraph examination and was cleared as a suspect.
Four of the boys were from Newark. McDowell had recently moved to East
Orange.
McDowell's aunt, Helen Simmons, called the arrests "a bittersweet victory" on
Monday.
"After 30 years, you're no longer grieving, but you're still wondering,"
Simmons told CBS 2 HD back in May of 2009.
The boys were never heard from and left no trace of evidence.
Johnson's mother said 10 years after her son disappeared that she especially
missed him around 9 p.m., "when I could always hear the basketball bouncing,
bouncing, bouncing as he walked home from the park." Source: http://www.dvdsetcollection.com
2010年3月24日星期三
Detective Lilly Rush and the rest of the team regularly solve unsolved cases from years ago. Unfortunately, it looks like their TV show will soon be a thing of the past as well. The show was barely renewed in 2009 and the ratings have dropped since then. Unless things change pretty quickly, it looks certain that COLD CASE will be cancelled. Remember, the most important thing to CBS and the sponsors is for people to watch the show on their television, while it’s being broadcast. If you like COLD CASE dvd box set and want to see it continue, there are a few things you can do to help keep it going. 1. Watch the show each week, preferably live, and encourage others to do the same. You might know a Nielsen family and not even know it. 2. Talk about the show with other people; at school, at work, online, or wherever. Creating a buzz about a show gets people interested and invested in watching. 3. Sign the petition below and encourage others to do the same. 4. Write to the network. Be respectful. Everyone responds better to courtesy. Tell them how much you enjoy the show, that you’ve signed the petition, and that you want to see it continue. You can use this form or, even better, write via snail-mail to: Ms. Nina Tassler, CBS, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, RE: cheap COLD CASE dvd 5. Take note of the products that you see advertised consistently during the show. Write the advertisers and tell them that you appreciate their sponsoring the show and that you buy their products (if you do). ________________________________________ To CBS, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Warner Bros. Television, and CBS Television Studios: We, the undersigned, have enjoyed watching the COLD CASE seasons dvd TV show on the CBS network. It continues to be a quality series with a unique and compelling way of telling crime stories. Please find a way to keep COLD CASE on dvd on the air. We are devoted viewers who will continue to watch the program, encourage others to do the same, and will support the series’ advertisers as well. If necessary, change its night and time. Please keep it going, either on CBS or, if necessary, on one of the other CBS-affiliated channels.
THE TEAM INVESTIGATES THE 1974 MURDER OF A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AFTER HIS BODY IS FOUND IN A DEMOLISHED BUILDING'S CEMENT FOUNDATION, ON "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, JAN. 17
Former NFL Player Matthew Willig Guest Stars As the Victim's "Muscle" Sidekick
"The Runaway Bunny" - Suspects abound in the 1974 murder case of a private investigator who, the team discovers, uncovered unfavorable things for - and about - his last few clients, on COLD CASE, Sunday, Jan. 17 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Former NFL player Matthew Willig guest stars as an associate of the P.I. who was brought along for added muscle during his final investigation.
SERIES REGULARS:
Lilly Rush................................. Kathryn Morris Scotty Valens................................. Danny Pino Lt. John Stillman................................ John Finn Nick Vera............................ Jeremy Ratchford Will Jeffries................................... Thom Barry Kat Miller................................... Tracie Thoms
RECURRING CAST:
Moe Kitchener......................... Daniel Baldwin Ramiro Valens.................... Ismael "East" Carlo
GUEST CAST:
Harry Denton (1974) .................... Brian Howe Chuck "French" Jaworski (1974)..................... Matthew Willig Chuck "French" Jaworski (2010) ....................... Richard Moll Lana Parker (1974)........................... Jud Tylor Lana Parker (2010).................... Shera Danese Carl Welter (1974)........................... Sky Soleil Carl Welter (2010)....................... Steve Eastin Barb Welter (1974).................. Gabrielle Miller Wilson Katz (1974)............... Michael Kostroff Wilson Katz (2010)................ Alan Blumenfeld Caroline Hargreave (1974)........ Chandra West Caroline Hargreave (2010) Jane Daly Bunny Hargreave (1974).............. Julianna Guill Bunny Hargreave (2010) Shawn Weatherly
Categories: Burn Notice, News, Prison Break, Scoop, Supernatural Image Credit: Glenn Watson/USA; Inset: Chris Hatcher/PR PhotosEvil will have a new face next season onBurn Notice, and it’ll look a lot like the guy in the inset to the left. His name’s Robert Wisdom, he’s best known from his work on The Wire (as Bunny), Prison Break (as Lechero), and Supernatural (as bad angel Uriel), and sources confirm to me exclusively he’s joining the cast of the USA smash as the latest thorn in Michael’s side.
According to a Burn insider, Wisdom will play — Alias flashback alert! — Vaughn, a veteran spy handler who works for the group that burned Michael. Possessing an impressive combination of high-end book smarts and real-world experience, he’s smart, world-weary, and ruthless.
The addition of Wisdom, who is on board for a minimum of six episodes, marks the second major piece of casting for Burn Notice’s upcoming fourth season. Last week I reported that Third Watch’s Coby Bell had been recruited as a new operative.
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The TV series Xena: Warrior Princess," with its brazen beauties, captured the attention of viewers in the late 1990s and has maintained a cult following since its final broadcast in 2001. 
